Mercer Soccer Picks Up Conference Honors

MACON, Ga. - (School Release) After an undefeated week on the pitch, junior Ehjayson Henry was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week and sophomore Ashani Samuels was voted the A-Sun Defensive Player of the Week and garnered a spot on the CollegeSoccerNews.com National Team of the Week.

The weekly conference honors are the first for either player and the second and third received by a Mercer player this season after goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh was named the A-Sun Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 17.

Henry had a breakout game against East Tennessee State to help the Bears capture a very important 2-1 road win over the Buccaneers in their A-Sun Conference opener. The Harris Village, Saint Kitts native scored both goals in the contest to improve Mercer's record to a perfect 5-0-0 in A-Sun Conference openers under fifth-year head coach Brad Ruzzo.

Samuels had a monster week for the Orange and Black and was not only recognized by the conference for his efforts, but nationally as well thanks to his addition on the CollegeSoccerNews.com National Team of the Week. Samuels was one of only 12 players in the nation on the squad and is just the third A-Sun Conference player to earn the distinction this season.

Samuels led a stellar Mercer defensive unit that only allowed one goal in two wins on the week. He had a huge game against UNC-Asheville scoring his first two goals of the season, including the game-winner, in a 4-0 win on September 26. The West Moreland, Jamaica product found his way back into the stat sheet at ETSU, assisting on Mercer's first goal in its 2-1 win over the Buccaneers.

Henry, Samuels and the rest of the Bears are back in action when they return to Macon to continue their A-Sun Conference slate against Lipscomb on Thursday night. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Bear Field.